Founded in 1975 in Vancouver, The Flag Shop / Textile Image Inc. was the first specialty flag shop of its kind in Canada. Today, The Flag Shop’s main specialty is printing soft signage including flags, banners, and other custom products as well as making promotional items. Started by Doreen Braverman, The Flag Shop remains a family business and is currently owned and operated by her daughter, Susan Braverman.

The Flag Shop began its support of co-operatives in 2009 by getting involved with Common Thread Co-operative, a non-profit social enterprise which trains and employs people who work best in a flexible work environment. The Flag Shop provides work space in its production department for Common Thread’s sewing machines and seamstresses. In 2013, Susan was nominated for and won the Social Enterprise Top Hero Award from Social Enterprise British Columbia for her work with Common Thread.

The Flag Shop became involved with co-operatives and credit unions on a national level in 2012 which the UN declared the “International Years of Co-operatives”. A portion of proceeds from the sale of IYC products went to the Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF), a non-profit which raises funds and organizes volunteers to bring co-operative principles to developing countries in an effort to reduce global poverty. The CDF works closely with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) which delivers programs across the globe on their behalf.

More recently, products for a campaign for credit unions called “My Credit Union Matters” are available from The Flag Shop through the end of the year. As the preferred promotional product supplier for co-ops in Canada, The Flag Shop is now offering products for co-operatives in partnership with Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada.

The Flag Shop donates proceeds from every purchase of Co-operative products to the CDF to show our commitment to the Co-operatives in Canada.

To learn more about Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, please visit canada.coop.